On March 13-17, 2011, Camp ASCCA hosted one of Push America’s “Push Camps”.
As described on the Push America website, “Push Camp is a Push America construction program created to provide manpower to build and renovate structures such as accessible fishing piers, boardwalks, pavilions and playgrounds for camps providing support to people with disabilities. Pi Kappa Phis from across the country come together for a week of construction and teamwork to provide a well-built accessible environment for people with disabilities to enjoy during their camping experience.”
Push America “was founded in 1977 by Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity with the purpose of instilling lifelong service in its members and enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities. Push America is still fulfilling the purpose it was intended for, but has grown into a nationwide organization with numerous programs educating undergraduates, alumni, and communities about the abilities of people with disabilities.”
This year, 22 young Pi Kappa Phis from across the country helped Camp ASCCA by building an accessible ramp to the waterslide, created an accessible area at the “new” lakefront area, worked on the “outdoor gameroom, and painted the newly renovated exterior of the administration building.
On Wednesday of their visit, some of our traditional campers from the nearby Randolph County Learning Center stopped by for a day trip to interact with the Push Camp volunteers.
Additionally at the end of their stay, the Push Camp leader, Nick Breaux, presented Camp Administrator John Stephenson with a donation of $5,000 to help cover the cost of the supplies from the projects.
Push America wants everyone to know that “the camps and people with disabilities are not the only ones benefiting though. These service opportunities give members of Pi Kappa Phi a chance to come together away from school or work and make a difference in the lives of others. Through our four construction programs, Build America, Give-A-Push Weekends, Push Camp, and AccessABILITY, Push America is always looking for new opportunities in the accessible construction realm.”
To see pictures from Push Camp, visit Camp ASCCA’s Flickr site here.
Located in Alabama on Lake Martin, Camp ASCCA offers campers a wide variety of traditional recreational and educational activities with a unique design for accessibility.
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